Categories
Disputes News Technology WIPO

Apple wins dispute over iPods.com, domain name ordered transferred

iPod Shuffle

Updated August 1, 2011:  The full administrative panel decision has been posted online.

**

WIPO Panelist David Cairns has ruled in favor of Apple in a dispute over the domain name ipods.com.

Apple filed the complaint at the end of May with the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Although the company is known for paying millions of dollars for domain names, sometimes months after launching a product, it may be adopting a different approach by following the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the UDRP), which costs thousands not millions when it’s successful for a complainant.  

In the case of iCloud.com which captured technology news headlines, the company reportedly paid $4.5 million in late April for ownership of the domain name (along with others) from Swedish cloud computing company Xcerion, shortly before officially launching the service. 

But the days of Apple purchasing domain names for seven figures, like it did for iPhone.com from businessman Michael Kovatch months after it released the iPhone, might be gone.

Full details of the ruling in case no. D2011-0929 have not been posted yet, which would explain what led Panelist David Cairns to the decision of ordering ipods.com to be transferred to Apple.  

The decision was just issued this past Friday, on July 29, according to WIPO’s website.  When the full decision becomes available online, I will update this post.

Depending on the reasoning, this decision could prompt Apple to file dozens of disputes over web addresses it still doesn’t own such as iPad.com, iPads.com, Macs.com, iPhones.com, iPhone5.com and countless more.

Earlier this month, Apple acquired the domains iPhone4.com and WhiteiPhone.com for an undisclosed amount.

Discussion: Apple Insider, Chron.Com / TechBlog, iPodNN, Neowin.net, 9to5Mac, Network World, The Inquirer, Mashable, Geeky Gadgets, the Sociable and Techmeme

(Photo of iPod Shuffle Second Generation via Wikipedia)

Categories
News Technology

Bell-ATL.com, internet’s oldest hyphenated .com domain turns 25

payphone

Bell-ATL.com used to be the web address for Bell Atlantic’s website, which is now called Verizon Communications after a series of mergers dating back to the 1980s. 

The URL (http://www.bell-atl.com/), which turns 25 on August 5, is still used by the telecommunications giant and re-directs to a landing page on Verizon.com’s website.

While it’s not symbolics.com, the first .com domain ever registered, it is the first hyphenated .com domain ever registered.

Also sharing a 25th birthday on August 5 are GE.com, Grebyn.com, ISC.com, NSC.com, and Stargate.com.

Categories
Disputes National Arbitration Forum News

With return of ThunderCats, comes domain dispute over ThunderCats.com

thundercats

 An all-new ThunderCats animated series premieres on Cartoon Network tonight.

Warner Bros anticipates the series will appeal to viewers who have loved the characters all their lives as well as young newcomers to the franchise.  That, according to a press release.

Now with all the hype surrounding ThunderCats, it appears Warner Bros wants to setup a website using ThunderCats.com. 

The only problem is, the company doesn’t own the domain.

A domain dispute (case No. 1400583) has been filed with the National Arbitration Forum.  While the name of the complainant isn’t known at this time, it’s a safe bet that it’s Warner Bros behind the filing.

Since 2003, Warner Bros has filed several disputes with the National Arbitration Forum – and won. 

In one of its more recent cases, Warner Bros won hogwarts.com

The company has only had 2 claims denied at the National Arbitration Forum.  Djbatman.com in 2004 and DaisyDukes.com in 2005.

Categories
News

What is Facebook’s plan with its newest domain registration: FBFeedback.com?

Facebook

So what is behind Facebook’s newest domain registration, FBFeedback.com?

While there’s no website online, and Facebook already has a Help center for gathering suggestions and feedback, there is something more to it. 

In addition to purchasing the domain FBFeedback.com, the social networking giant also registered two more related names using the registrar MarkMonitor — FBFeedback.net and FBFeedback.org.

You wouldn’t purchase the .com, the .net. and the .org without a plan, would you?

All three web addresses were purchased on July 25.

Is the company gathering feedback in hopes that it will beat Google+ to certain features, or is it working closer with the social performance platform Rypple?

Guess only time will tell.

Here’s a look at the Whois record:

Registrant:
        Domain Administrator
        Facebook, Inc.
        1601 S. California Ave
         Palo Alto CA 94304
        US

    Domain Name: fbfeedback.com

        Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
        Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
        Registrar Homepage: ‘http://www.markmonitor .com

Administrative Contact:
        Domain Administrator
        Facebook, Inc.
        1601 S. California Ave
         Palo Alto CA 94304
        US

    Created on…………..: 2011-07-25.
    Expires on…………..: 2013-07-25.
    Record last updated on..: 2011-07-25.

Categories
News Trademarks Video Games

Disney files trademarks for Gnome Town for online social networking services

Gnome Town

Disney Enterprises has filed 4 trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for “Gnome Town”.

With the sleeper cartoon movie hit Gnomeo & Juliet so far earning $189,967,670 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo, it’s no wonder Disney is taking the film based on William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet online.

According to the USPTO, 4 trademarks were filed by Disney Enterprises on July 19 and cover a wide range of services including social networking, an online virtual community, online computer games and more.

Here’s a look at each trademark application:

Word Mark  GNOME TOWN [85374891] 
Goods and Services IC 045. US 100 101. G & S: Online social networking services

Word Mark  GNOME TOWN [85374901] 
Goods and Services IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: Computer services, namely, creating an online virtual community for registered users to participate in and hold competitions, showcase their skills, improve their talent, participate in incentive award programs, get feedback from their peers, form virtual communities, trade, buy and sell virtual goods, conduct virtual tours, facilitate interaction among users, rank users, engage in social networking, and participate in on-line discussion boards; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software to enable viewing, previewing, sharing, manipulating, and creating blogs regarding computer games via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software to enable viewing, previewing, sharing, manipulating, enhancements for computer games, online games, and game applications and information relating to computer games and game enhancements via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices

Word Mark  GNOME TOWN [85374915] 
Goods and Services IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment and education services; providing online computer games, online enhancements for computer games, and providing online games; providing information relating to computer games and game enhancements via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices; providing an online entertainment information service featuring information regarding computer games, enhancements for computer games, online games, and game applications via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices; providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer games; providing temporary use of non downloadable software for playing computer games; providing temporary use of non downloadable software to enable playing and otherwise providing computer games

Word Mark  GNOME TOWN [85374926]
Goods and Services IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Audio recordings; video recordings; audio and visual recordings; video game cartridges, discs and software; computer game cartridges and discs; consumer electronics and accessories therefor; eyeglasses and sunglasses and accessories therefor; decorative refrigerator magnets; graduated rulers for office and stationery; hand-held units for playing electronic games for use with an external display screen or monitor; computer software, namely, computer game software; electronic games and game software that may be downloaded via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices

So who owns the domain name gnometown.com? Not Disney apparently. The web address has been registered for years.

This past February, Disney acquired Togetherville, a social network for kids 10 years of age or younger.

At the time of this story, Disney has not officially announced the venture.